Overview
- Max Verstappen secured pole for Saturday’s United States Grand Prix sprint by 0.071s over Lando Norris, with Oscar Piastri third and Nico Hulkenberg a surprise fourth.
- Norris said the team held him responsible for the lap-one Singapore contact with Piastri and that he will have repercussions through the end of the season.
- McLaren executives described the consequence as marginal and sporting in nature, and both drivers remain free to race under the same internal framework.
- Piastri leads Norris by 22 points with six races and three sprints remaining, increasing the potential for points swings during the Austin weekend.
- Norris topped the lone practice session at COTA before sprint qualifying, as Hulkenberg again featured near the front and Red Bull signaled renewed pace.